Volunteer Reviews

Joe Newitt -Lutin, England

Joe is a semi-professional kickboxer with a masters degree in sports medicine. He did a fundraiser back home in England and arrived here in the jungle with gloves and pads so 20 students of the Poetry-English-Sports program could learn kick boxing. We also created a 10 week basic nutrition class that was presented bi-lingually. The students were given handouts so they could take basic nutritional information home to their parents while we blended English with sports as well.

Personally Rewarding Experience

I have recently finished volunteering with blue lagoon volunteering. While I was volunteering I stayed with Patrick in his house in the town, the house was next to a river and i really enjoyed relaxing in the hammock in nature after working with the children. The food was very nice and healthy, Patrick was always asking if there was anything I wanted, if so I just had to add to the list and he would try and get it from town if it is available. Sauce where I stayed is beautiful and the locals are very friendly, the house was a short walk from the lagoon and there was a waterfall a short hike from the house. During my stay in my free time I went for runs regularly, which in combination with the healthy diet helped me to lose about 10KG. For the volunteering I was mainly involved with the sports, poetry and English portion of the program. . . .

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Ann & Leon - Sidney, Australia

Ann Chapmann & Leon Brunato have been with us here at Blue Lagoon Volunteering about one month. Normally we post reviews after volunteers complete their commitment but with this two person team I could not wait. Both Ann and her partner Leon are focused on sharing their education and life’s experiences with the children of this community through teaching English. They have also been enthusiastic about helping at the eco-farm/recreo and the river house. People like Ann and Leon give so much and therefore receive the most from the experience.

In the End We Had A Great Effect On The Program

Leon and I have here now four weeks into our ten week commitment here at The Blue Lagoon near Tarapoto, Peru. We’re loving it. We are thoroughly enjoying teaching English and sports to young teenagers in the afternoons. They are lively and full of personality. We’re focusing on speaking and listening skills as the students get some English classes in secondary school. The students like playing active games while practicing their English, learning new activities and learning in an alternative way to the method they experience in a formal classroom. Students play a variety of sports before and after English in this learn anytime, anywhere program. They also regularly swim at the Eco-Farm recreo where we have the after school program two our of the four days per week. We’ve done some work in the eco-farm, including planting citrus . . .

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Cassie Gilbert- Washington, United States

Cassie at 18 years old is one of the youngest volunteers we have every had but it really paid off. She is an agressive young student planning on becoming and astronaut who finished high school a year early and wanted to take an adventurous break before starting college. Not only did she learn a lot a grow from having to rough it out in the jungle but she was a positive influence on many of the young adolescent girls in the program that with hard work and dedication they can go anywhere and do anything in this world.

I Learned How to Follow Through on a Big Commitment

Not yet posted

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Daniel Infantes Tarapoto, Peru

Daniel turned out to be a key player as a translator when Joe was here from England. He is a devoted Christian but chose to serve the Lord where we needed him. instrumentally he worked with Joe and enabled us to present the kickbox and nutrition classes that Joe had developed. bilingually. It was particularly satisfying to see Daniel perform in this way because he is one of my advanced private English students. So not only did he get to advance in his English but was an invaluable asset to Joe and the rest of the staff as well as a positive influence and mentor to the children only several years younger than him and making plans for their future. Daniel is now in his second year of college and hopes to study abroad. He is a staff member with Amazon Volunteering who joins us regularly while working on his bachelor’s degree in nearly Tarapoto.

I Learned & Shared So Much

I joined Amazon Volunteering two years ago when I was taking private face-to- face and private English lessons with Profesor Patricio. The summer before I started college Patrick invited me to visit The Blue Lagoon and check out his kids program. I had never been to this beautiful tourist location two hours from my home so I was excite for the opportunity. I went along to see the program was very impressed with how organized Amazon Volunteering was and how easy it was to fit in and help. Patrick has a real talent for seeing each pérsons potential and teaming them up with people of like interests. I almost immediately found myself in a key position with a volunteer from England I learning kickboxing and how to teach kids and work as a translator! ! I continue to return and help when I can because these kind of experiences and friends and people I have met have had a super impact on my life. If you want to experience personal growth and exchange cultures while visiting a place that is like going back in time to a simpler way of life I strongly suggest a commitment with Amazon Volunteering.

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Kitty Kessels- Copenhagen, Denmark

Kitty Kessels is a health care professional who came to us interested in working directly with native tribes on the river. The success we had with her lead to the development of Component 6- Create Your Own Component. She spent time visiting several communities for 2 week intervals teaching the women and children basic hygene and nutrition.

The Adventure of A Life Time !

The team at Amazon Volunteering created a perfect adventure for me. Patrick was enthusiastic and up to the task of fulfilling as many of the ideas I had hoped to include in my experience on the Amazon Rivers. My main goal was to teach basic hygiene and nutrition to indigenous communities along the rivers while participating in their culture in this very unique environment. . It was like going back in time to a more natural form of living. Most of my stops along the river were at villages that had no electricity and seldom gas for stoves. I always felt safe because the team back at The Blue Lagoon had set me up with a solar charger so we communicated by internet. . .

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Oswaldo Reátegui Tarapoto, Peru

Oswaldo is a special staff volunteer. If it were not for Oswaldo’s support and inspiration, first as an advanced English student of mine, second as one of our first volunteers here at the lagoon and then as photographer and technical advisor, our programs would not exist. Oswaldo is currently a Chevining Scholarship recipient and is working on his masters in Environmental Engineering in England. He will return home next year to apply his studies to the ever important issue of water management here at The Blue Lagoon. He continues to support our efforts as a prime example to students and the entire community that with the right guidance, hard work and dedication children from our small jungle community can go anywhere and do anything in this world.

A Strong Addition to My Life's Foundation

Amazon Volunteering has been a great opportunity to improve my English and be a positive influence on the younger students of my home here at The Blue Lagoon. I also gained confidence, invaluable community based organizational experience, as well as essential references and recommendations that helped me gain a very important post-graduate scholarship for further studies in England. Even before meeting Patrick the director I had always had a desire to help my community and entire country with our water management issues but he was an additional inspiration and example of how to create community based organizations and initiate positive change. I hope that we will both be working together and separately on various projects that will benefit our community and the world !

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Buddy Wheeler- Virginia, USA

Buddy Wheeler is a retired city of Virginia Beach, Virginia U.S.A. He was a special influence because he came to us after having spent most of his career working with and promoting handicap athletics. This makes him empathetic to all students who might not be athletically gifted making him ideal for our Learn Anytime Anywhere philosophy which highlights the use of outdoor classes combined with physical activities and sports. Buddy has many years of experience in and around basketball and came to us with nets and balls so we could introduce the sport to the children of our program in this remote jungle environment.

While with us Buddy sustained a re- injury from a pre-existing condition and had to leave us before the end of the 8 week cycle community event. However, His follow up posts on Facebook that shared gratitude for all those he worked with but especially in relation to how those he came in contact with responded to his needs following his re-injury. This generated additional positive online community building and turned negative into a real positive (read an example).

Buddy is a man after my own heart in that he in hid 60’s and me in my late 50’s continue to promote a healthy physical lifestyle within ourselves and those we meet of all ages. He is a big guy and really added to the mix of both male and female volunteers coming from various countries with various passions. He was a positive influence for young and old big and small here are the remote and beautiful Blue Lagoon.

A Positive Experience and Meeting Helping Hands

I had a mixed experience while volunteering with Blue Lagoon. Everything about the volunteering was great. The children I worked with were active and willing to learn. Patrick and his wife were great hosts and helped me get to know Sauce and the people there. Sauce itself is a charming village with wonderful and friendly people. Unfortunately I sustained a significant injury during my work there and had to depart a week early and did not get to finish out the project. While the injury did occur during volunteer time it was the result of a pre-existing condition and was in no way the responsibility of Blue Lagoon or anyone associated with them. I would love to return to Sauce one day to thank everyone I met there. This was definitely a positive experience for me. Buddy Wheeler

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Anne & Geoff -Bollington, England

Anne and Geoff were another strong influence which lead toward the development of Component 6-Build Your Own Component.. They came to us from a small town in rural England with experience working with seniors. Anne had a strong background in handicrafts and Geoff carpentry and trail cleaning for his home community. They also arrived with biographies consisting of text and photos of about half a dozen seniors from their community. They worked with two other volunteers who were experienced English teachers and created a biography contest which we added to the end of cycle main event. Each of our students was give the assignment of interviewing a senior from The Blue Lagoon including photos. Then they shared this biography to the community in both Spanish and English at the end of cycle main event. 6 students were elected to share the biographies from England that Anne and Geoff brought to our community. Anne, with the help Geoff to build the needed hand and backdrop items along with other proactive volunteers created a handy craft class that ran 2 nights a week for adults of the community and was also incorporated into our afternoon program for interested students.

Volunteer Review Pending

Vivian Brown-New York City

All volunteers bring something unique. Vivian came to us as a college student from New York City however she was born and raised here in Peru. She was very eager to share her travel and educational experiences with the children here at The Blue Lagoon. She became a great example for the local students, especially the girls that with hard work and dedication they could go anywhere and do anything in this world. We expect great things from her in the future and hope to see her back here as she has promised for a visit upon graduation from college.

A Confidence Building Experience

My experience with Amazon Volunteering was incredible. As a young women traveling alone I was a little concerned about getting in and out of Lima and up into the jungle alone. However, the director Patrick organized all my pick-ups and transfers. I also loved the Blue Lagoon area because I could go out alone at night and never felt unsafe. I even fell asleep one night with my front door open. The children of this village all walk to school together and return home for lunch with the entire family. The family that I stayed with taught me how to cook many Peruvian dishes over a wood burning stove and we all washed our cloths by hand. I also learned how to play a Peruvian Flute and to weave authentic Peruvian rugs and blankets. I was able to witness to this family and the children whom attended the Amazon Christian Volunteering afternoon program. After spending 2 ½ months at the Blue Lagoon I went home having learned so much and felt I had really made a difference in the lives of all those I interacted with. I plan to return again more equipped to contribute when I finish at the University in the United States.

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Viktor Vanjard-Serbia

Viktor Vigjand is a very good friend of many people here at the Blue Lagoon. He often traveled extensively throughout South America but our town of Suace here really became his home away from home. He became involved when one of our volunteers became sick and had to return home. At first I did not know where to place him but soon found he was well versed in poetry and was a natural leader for the girls in our program. He was able to coach women’s volleyball as well as help all students read and write poetry bilingually.

I Felt Necessary

I have been a good friend of Patrick and his wife for over 6 years. I have admired his vision and dedication to selflessly help the people of The Blue Lagoon community which we have both come to consider as our own. When Patrick first asked me to participate I was a bit scared and did not know what i had to offer. However, Patrick has a gift for putting volunteers in their most useful position and the casual atmosphere of the outdoor learining environment mixed with sports and activities gave me confidence. I woke up daily looking forward to my 2 hours in the afternoon working with the local kids.

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